Hard Times Group

Question:

esraadhiab
esraadhiab
Student
College - Sophomore

What is the similarity between the factory workers of Coketown and Mr. Gradgrind's children?

Rate question:

Posted by esraadhiab on Sunday May 31, 2009 at 10:25 AM and tagged with children, coketown, factory, gradgrind, hands, louisa, tom, workers.

Answers:


  1. podunc Teacher
    College - Sophomore

    eNotes Editor

    In Chapter V, the narrator speculates that there is indeed an "analogy between the case of the Coketown population and the case of the little Gradgrinds." Both groups live in settings that are monotonous, "severely workful," and have no room for "fancy." In both cases, there is an ominous sense that, the harder they work, the more "the craving gr[ows] within for some physical relief." Since human imagination and desire cannot be stifled forever, in places like Coketown and the Gradgrind household, something eventually has to give.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/hard-times
    http://www.enotes.com/hard-times/list-characters

    Rate answer:

    Posted by podunc on Tuesday June 30, 2009 at 10:15 AM